Bluetooth Options For 2008 Silverado

VO1BMD · May 11, 2010

So has ANYONE gotten a replacement VCIM with bluetooth to work with On* 100%?

I am hearing a lot of "almosts" and we know how to turn a red LED green, but who has actually gotten 100% confirmed operation of BOTH bluetooth and On?

Just got me a tracking number... I will soon be amongst the ranks of the "been there... done that" tribe of bluetooth integration!!!!

Brewboy · May 11, 2010

So has ANYONE gotten a replacement VCIM with bluetooth to work with On* 100%?
I am hearing a lot of "almosts" and we know how to turn a red LED green, but who has actually gotten 100% confirmed operation of BOTH bluetooth and On?

Just got me a tracking number... I will soon be amongst the ranks of the "been there... done that" tribe of bluetooth integration!!!!

As far as I know the only guys to be successful so far in 100% On* account transitions are guys who were able to find a used VCIM from an 09 GM vehicle with an active account and simply live with On* believing they are driving the old 09 GM vehicle.

In my case and a couple others on this forum, I believe the swap is technically complete, they just don't want to switch accounts based on an internal policy.

Anyone else advise?

loach402 · May 11, 2010

As far as I know the only guys to be successful so far in 100% On* account transitions are guys who were able to find a used VCIM from an 09 GM vehicle with an active account and simply live with On* believing they are driving the old 09 GM vehicle.

In my case and a couple others on this forum, I believe the swap is technically complete, they just don't want to switch accounts based on an internal policy.

Anyone else advise?

I think there are plenty of G8 owners who have gotten full functionality from their new eBay units, but I think most of them are '09 owners and bluetooth was a mid-model year addition on the 2009 G8. I think you're largely right as to the 2007-8 GM trucks, SUVs and Lambda CUVs. It doesn't seem like anybody's having 100% On* success with new units on those.

loach402 · May 12, 2010

Well, my saga with Onstar continues with no real end in sight. Pressed the blue On* button again tonight and waited about 7 minutes for them to answer. This time they answered "Thank you for contacting the Onstar navigation center. Where would you like to go today?" That's a new one - I don't even have the directions & connections plan. So I told them I needed tech assistance and they transferred me. Got a very nice lady who tried to once again activate my service with new phone number. She finally gave up and after about 15 minutes of beeping and phone ringing sounds came back on the line.

What she said was interesting, to say the least. She said that she was unable to get it activated and thinks it's because of a software problem on their end. She said "I don't think it's a hardware problem" - unlike the other techs I've spoken to who immediately blamed the hardware even though my On* light is green indicating that all systems are go. She said she's escalating to the "senior tech team" to resolve the software issue and they should contact me in 3-5 days. I'm not holding my breath, but we'll see.

Brewboy · May 12, 2010

Well, my saga with Onstar continues with no real end in sight. Pressed the blue On* button again tonight and waited about 7 minutes for them to answer. This time they answered "Thank you for contacting the Onstar navigation center. Where would you like to go today?" That's a new one - I don't even have the directions & connections plan. So I told them I needed tech assistance and they transferred me. Got a very nice lady who tried to once again activate my service with new phone number. She finally gave up and after about 15 minutes of beeping and phone ringing sounds came back on the line.

What she said was interesting, to say the least. She said that she was unable to get it activated and thinks it's because of a software problem on their end. She said "I don't think it's a hardware problem" - unlike the other techs I've spoken to who immediately blamed the hardware even though my On* light is green indicating that all systems are go. She said she's escalating to the "senior tech team" to resolve the software issue and they should contact me in 3-5 days. I'm not holding my breath, but we'll see.

Is it just me or is this absolutely insane considering we are just trying to add BT functionality to our GM vehicles and that very BT functionality that On* is blocking is actually for increased safety and often required by law?

So perhaps safety ISNT the primary objective of On* then.

C. Charles Hahn · May 12, 2010

Is it just me or is this absolutely insane considering we are just trying to add BT functionality to our GM vehicles and that very BT functionality that On* is blocking is actually for increased safety and often required by law?

So perhaps safety ISNT the primary objective of On* then.

I think you're missing what the real problem is here. OnStar is not blocking BT functionality, they're blocking Gen8 OnStar being installed in vehicles originally equipped with Gen7. There is no law anywhere that says you must use this method of hands-free phone in the vehicle; we're just going after full OE-style integration and there are some software issues that need to be handled in order to prevent it.

You're blaming OnStar for the wrong part of the problem.

loach402 · May 12, 2010

Is it just me or is this absolutely insane considering we are just trying to add BT functionality to our GM vehicles and that very BT functionality that On* is blocking is actually for increased safety and often required by law?

So perhaps safety ISNT the primary objective of On* then.

I think you're missing what the real problem is here. OnStar is not blocking BT functionality, they're blocking Gen8 OnStar being installed in vehicles originally equipped with Gen7. There is no law anywhere that says you must use this method of hands-free phone in the vehicle; we're just going after full OE-style integration and there are some software issues that need to be handled in order to prevent it.

You're blaming OnStar for the wrong part of the problem.

I have to agree somewhat, Charlie - at least with respect to my last 2 calls with Onstar. Onstar actually appears to be making a good faith effort to solve my problem and keep me as a customer at this point. The tech last night was not being obstructive at all - she just honestly couldn't figure out how to solve the problem, so she escalated it.

Again, I'm not holding my breath - the "senior tech team" may well come back with the same same pap about the hardware being wrong for your vehicle and if you don't take it back to the dealer your vehicle will automatically self-destruct blah blah blah. If that happens, my journey probably ends and I'll just have to drop Onstar.

Brewboy · May 12, 2010

Is it just me or is this absolutely insane considering we are just trying to add BT functionality to our GM vehicles and that very BT functionality that On* is blocking is actually for increased safety and often required by law?

So perhaps safety ISNT the primary objective of On* then.

I think you're missing what the real problem is here. OnStar is not blocking BT functionality, they're blocking Gen8 OnStar being installed in vehicles originally equipped with Gen7. There is no law anywhere that says you must use this method of hands-free phone in the vehicle; we're just going after full OE-style integration and there are some software issues that need to be handled in order to prevent it.

You're blaming OnStar for the wrong part of the problem.

I get that but IMO an OEM solution is always best choice and On* is blocking our ability to choose OEM. The legal requirement of Bluetooth handsfree cell-phone use has only been in the last few years and back in 2006 when the engineers were working on the 07/08 On* systems there probably wasn't the demand for BT like there is today.

Someone at GM/On* decided to integrate BT into the G8 On* module rather then make it separate.

If they don't want 07/08 vehicles to use Gen8 VCIM's then providing another OEM option is better then simply saying no. Delphi makes an OEM aftermarket BT module but they will only sell it to automakers and GM denies it exists.

http://delphi.com/manufacturers/auto/enter...oth_con_device/

If there are significant software issues using Gen8 VCIM's in 07/08 models then tell us that and then we will look for an aftermarket solution close to OEM. I just don't believe these software issues exist because there are too many 07/08 owners who have done the swap and have full functionality.

If the issue is money, and wanting to keep 07/08 owners on the On* Handsfree Calling System where they charge the for minutes I think most of us even with BT would keep a few hundred minutes in the account just to cover times when our hand held device coverage was weak or non existent.

I have to give the GM engineers credit because the OEM Gen8 BT solution is very well done, so much so that Im willing to give up On* just to keep it.

C. Charles Hahn · May 12, 2010

Again, I'm not holding my breath - the "senior tech team" may well come back with the same same pap about the hardware being wrong for your vehicle and if you don't take it back to the dealer your vehicle will automatically self-destruct blah blah blah. If that happens, my journey probably ends and I'll just have to drop Onstar.

With any luck, the senior team will be able to develop a new software calibration that will officially make their system play nice with Gen8 in our vehicles; and if that does happen, it will do nothing but make it much easier for all of us to get things up and running.

It will be very interesting to see what they come back with; the last conversation I had with OnStar, where they did the same thing they tried doing for you (assigning a new phone number), I didn't get the impression that they were going to be able to escalate it, but I might have to try again and push more. If the senior team sees more than one ticket in their queue dealing with the same problem, it might give them extra motivation to get things working.

Either way, I've talked to my dealer again and assuming nothing else comes up to keep me away, I'll be going in again Friday to have them run ONSA on my truck again, and we'll just have to see what happens.

C. Charles Hahn · May 12, 2010

I get that but IMO an OEM solution is always best choice and On* is blocking our ability to choose OEM. The legal requirement of Bluetooth handsfree cell-phone use has only been in the last few years and back in 2006 when the engineers were working on the 07/08 On* systems there probably wasn't the demand for BT like there is today.

OnStar isn't blocking our ability to choose OEM; no one is keeping you from trading your vehicle in on a 2009/2010 that comes with this functionality from the factory. We're looking for factory-style integration in our older vehicles, yes, but we're also attempting to use parts in a manner other than the way they were originally designed. To expect everything to work perfectly right out of the box is really kind of unreasonable in a situation such as this.

Someone at GM/On* decided to integrate BT into the G8 On* module rather then make it separate.

And logically so, if you ask me. Nearly every bit of the telematics in GM vehicles up to this point have been integrated into the OnStar VCIM; from an engineering perspective it makes far more sense to add new features to the existing telematic infrastructure than to reinvent the wheel by making the bluetooth function separate.

If they don't want 07/08 vehicles to use Gen8 VCIM's then providing another OEM option is better then simply saying no. Delphi makes an OEM aftermarket BT module but they will only sell it to automakers and GM denies it exists.

Again, see above. It would be far more costly and difficult to have this one function in a separate module than to simply add it to what already exists. Not to mention that when it comes right down to it, there are actually very few people who would actually go back to their GM dealers to buy a kit to add bluetooth to their older vehicles. Generally speaking if people are going to purchase genuine GM accessories for their vehicles they're going to do so when purchasing it new, not 2-3 years after the fact. After that point, most people will seek aftermarket solutions instead simply because they cost less on average and are more flexible than sticking with OE solutions.

Those of us on this and other sites who are going about this the way we are actually are in the minority.

If there are significant software issues using Gen8 VCIM's in 07/08 models then tell us that and then we will look for an aftermarket solution close to OEM. I just don't believe these software issues exist because there are too many 07/08 owners who have done the swap and have full functionality.

Really? Where are they?

You even said yourself that the folks who have full functionality are driving around in 07-08 vehicles that OnStar believes are 09s. That, to me, isn't truly full functionality. If OnStar were aware that the vehicle was an 07-08, THAT would be full functionality.

If the issue is money, and wanting to keep 07/08 owners on the On* Handsfree Calling System where they charge the for minutes I think most of us even with BT would keep a few hundred minutes in the account just to cover times when our hand held device coverage was weak or non existent.

Fully agreed. I want the handsfree calling system to work mainly because I have my cell service through AT&T (GSM network) and OnStar uses Verizon (CDMA network). That way, when one service gets no signal, I should still theoretically be able to connect with the other.

RayGMC · May 12, 2010

I have an 09 Bluetooth VCIM in my 07 SD and I have full functionality with OnStar. I purchased mine as a used module and after a few hurdles everything is working....

C. Charles Hahn · May 12, 2010

I have an 09 Bluetooth VCIM in my 07 SD and I have full functionality with OnStar. I purchased mine as a used module and after a few hurdles everything is working....

Meaning OnStar is fully aware that you've got an 07 SD when you call in?

I think you got extremely lucky.... you're the only one I've heard actually say they've got 100% integration working in a GMT900.

VO1BMD · May 12, 2010

So THERE IS a possibility of having full integration!?!?! This may be the first...if not and you have full function as well, please pipe up and let us know what & how..

Brewboy · May 12, 2010

I have an 09 Bluetooth VCIM in my 07 SD and I have full functionality with OnStar. I purchased mine as a used module and after a few hurdles everything is working....

Meaning OnStar is fully aware that you've got an 07 SD when you call in?

I think you got extremely lucky.... you're the only one I've heard actually say they've got 100% integration working in a GMT900.

That's really what I was getting at. If it works for one GMT900 without any issues then it will work for all.

Again proving it's not a technical issue making this hard, it's a policy.

C. Charles Hahn · May 12, 2010

Again proving it's not a technical issue making this hard, it's a policy.

I disagree. I still think it IS a technical issue, and the real problem is that the workaround simply isn't well known to the members of the technical team. It's luck of the draw if you get a representative that can successfully make it work or not. If this were a policy driven issue, they wouldn't even be willing to try doing anything once they realized what was going on.

I don't understand why many people around here are so quick to diss GM and its subsidiaries for "bad business practices and policies" when something technical isn't simple to deal with. They're not trying to screw people, they're just not used to dealing with folks using their parts and systems in ways they weren't designed to be used in.